Willis ’19 Interning at Heritage Foundation

This summer, Katrina Willis ’19 is interning at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. After visiting the organization during the annual Day on the Hill experience over winter break, Willis discovered her career path. “I knew the moment I walked into the lobby I wanted to be a part of the think tank,” she says.

As an intern, Willis is writing articles for The Daily Signal, the news publication for the Heritage Foundation. She also meets regularly with a mentor through the Young Leaders Program and takes trips to historical sites in D.C.

“I have full confidence that The Daily Signal will prepare me not only for journalism, but any type of academic work in politics. Although I would like to pursue a career in law, a constitutional-focused think tank is a great opportunity to learn more about the law and its applications,” Willis says.

The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative think tank that served as a leader in the conservative movement during the Ronald Reagan administration and has continued to be a guiding force in public policy in the United States.

The Day on the Hill program occurs each January and takes students inside governmental organizations, non-profits, NGOs and other Washington, D.C. institutions for three days of experiential insight into politics and public policy.

“This internship is exciting because I have always been interested in civics but not public office. Think tanks are fascinating because they are political but in a way that is scholarly and thoughtful.”

Willis is a double major in digital communications—a major she created—and religious studies. She is chair of HWS Young Americans for Freedom, Campus Happenings editor for The Herald, and a member of Christian Fellowship. Willis works at the Office of Admissions and as a Resident Assistant. She is initiating a mentorship program for the William Smith Hill residential area called “Herons on the Hill.”